European Commission president optimistic Brussels and South American bloc will overcome environmental differences
The deal stalled after the EU demanded additional guarantees on deforestation and labour rights in an agreement concluded after 20 years of negotiations in 2019. Mercosur, which consists of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, is formulating a counterproposal that will be presented to the EU within weeks, a senior Brazilian diplomat said last week.
Mercosur leaders view the EU conditions as unacceptable, arguing they have already signed up to relevant international agreements to protect the rainforest and labour standards. The Greens in the European Parliament and NGOs say the deal would encourage farmers to clear forests to plant soyabeans or graze cattle to send to Europe. But Jordi Cañas, a Spanish MEP who chairs the European Parliament’s Mercosur delegation, told the Financial Times that Lula’s government should be trusted to protect the Amazon. “He is right. The additional instrument is just a justification to block the agreement for other reasons. If you want to stop deforestation sign the accord.
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